By Scout Nelson
Starting July 1, Minnesotans will have more choices for repairing their devices, thanks to the Digital Fair Repair Act. This law, passed by the Minnesota Legislature last year, is the most comprehensive right to repair law in the nation.
It requires manufacturers to provide spare parts, tools, and repair information to consumers and independent repair shops, breaking the monopoly held by big tech firms over repairs.
However, the act notably excludes motorcycles, power tools, off-road power equipment, and, importantly for Minnesota farmers, farm equipment such as tractors and combines.
Despite years of advocacy by the Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) to include agriculture equipment in right to repair bills, manufacturers have lobbied successfully for their exclusion.
Only three companies dominate the market for combines and tractors, and they have maintained their repair monopolies as these machines have become more advanced.
Manufacturers argue that industry agreements, such as the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by John Deere, make legislation unnecessary. This MOU provides access to a customer-facing diagnostic tool, but a closer look reveals its limitations.
The Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Education Fund found that Deere’s Customer Service ADVISOR tool lacks the full capabilities of the Service ADVISOR tool used by dealers.
This makes it difficult for farmers to diagnose and fix minor issues, keeping them reliant on manufacturers.
These MOUs are not enforceable. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has criticized them as “easily terminable and have no enforcement mechanism,” making them unreliable for farmers and independent repair shops.
The Environmental Protection Agency has stated that right to repair does not conflict with environmental regulations, countering manufacturers' claims.
The lack of right to repair has significant consequences for Minnesota farmers. Many have shared stories of costly delays caused by simple issues they could fix themselves if they had access to the necessary tools.
The consolidation of dealerships has made it even harder for farmers to get timely repairs, often requiring long travel or waiting for a technician.
Although the Legislature did not address the farm equipment exemption this session, there is growing momentum for change. Bipartisan support exists in the Minnesota House, and federal agencies like the FTC and the Department of Justice are working to ensure the right to repair.
Other states, like Colorado, have already passed laws granting farmers the right to repair.
The passage of the Digital Fair Repair Act in 2023 is a significant step toward fairness in the marketplace. However, legislators need to continue this progress by ensuring that family farmers can repair the equipment they depend on daily.
Photo Credit: pixabay-franck-barske
Categories: Minnesota, Government & Policy